St. Pete likely to ban street soliciting

ST. PETERSBURG - A clear majority of St. Petersburg city council members want street corners cleared of people with signs asking for money.

" [Their presence] is proliferating throughout this community and it just gets bigger and bigger," Councilman Herb Polson said.

Councilman Jeff Danner says the activity is a business-killer.

"Everyday, it's another apartment that doesn't get rented, it's another house that doesn't get sold, it's another prospective business that doesn't get opened -- I mean, people are livid," Danner said.

Their comments came at a committee meeting attended by all eight council members. Seven suggest they are in favor of the all-out ban on street solicitations, even if that also prohibits newspaper vending and charity fundraising, including firefighters' annual collections for the MDA.

Dr. Larry Klein has an office at 5th Avenue North and 20th Street, next to I-275 ramps. He agrees with the ban, saying "I think it would help clean up the city- I think it would be great for St. Petersburg."

A passing motorist also expressed support, saying "They need to get them off the street, they're killing tourism, it's just bad for the city."

Robert Hutchins took the news in stride. He said it was his first day holding a sign, but other homeless people urged him to try it. When he was told about the impending prohibition, he laughed and said "I didn't know that -- that's pretty funny. Figure it's my luck it's my first time trying something and then BAM. Oh well."